Parting instructions
Day 686, Sunday, June 28
John Chapters 20 – 21
Since these are the final chapters of John, it makes sense that we think of it as the end of the story. But it’s really not; it’s the beginning of a new story.
Most of John, like most of the other gospels, is devoted to the account of God on earth as a man. That is an important chapter—possibly the most important—of God’s interaction with the humans he created.
Now the next chapter begins. Just as God many years before gave Adam and Eve dominion over the world, entrusting them to its care and nurture, God now entrusts his followers with a new level of caring for and nurturing the world.
In 20:21-23, Jesus provides instructions for his disciples. We assume these apply to us as well. “Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’ And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.’”
Jesus sends us out in peace. Peace is both a gift and a mission. God grants us peace so that we may bring his peace to the world.
Jesus also empowers us with the Holy Spirit. We don’t have to do this on our own; the very presence of God is within us.
And it’s the Holy Spirit that enables us to forgive sins. Forgiving sins isn’t just a matter of pretending that sin isn’t important—you can’t forgive until you recognize the magnitude of the offense and the harm it causes. But we have been granted the awesome privilege of recognizing repentance and granting forgiveness in the name of Jesus Christ.
If those instructions aren’t clear enough, the final exchange between Jesus and Peter makes it even clearer: we show our love for Jesus when we love and care for his people.

-Rev. Mark Fleming

Sunday meditation

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless. “Laughter,” I said, “is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?” I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives.
I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a harem as well—the delights of a man’s heart. I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.
I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.

Prayer focus
Lord, may we spread your peace, your love and your forgiveness with the power of the Holy Spirit.